Remainers assemble! Ed Miliband says Brits should be 'proud Europeans' and demands 'deeper ties' with EU - as Labour MPs join Sadiq Khan in heaping pressure on PM to reverse Brexit

Ed Miliband today demanded deeper ties with the EU as he said Britons were 'proud Europeans'.The Foreign Secretary, who like most Labour MPs backed Remain at the 2016 EU referendum, called for 'stronger' links with Brussels on trade, defence and security.In a speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool, Mr Miliband told party members that 'Europe is not just our geography but so much more'.It came as senior Labour figures continued to pile pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to immediately take steps to begin rejoining the EU.London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Mr Burnham to 'start the work now' on persuading the country about the 'benefits' of being back inside the bloc.Mr Miliband, in his conference speech on Monday, said the 'future security of all of Europe is on the line' in Ukraine's fight against Russia. Ed Miliband today demanded deeper ties with the EU as he said Britons were 'proud Europeans' in his speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool The Foreign Secretary, who like most Labour MPs backed Remain at the 2016 EU referendum, called for 'stronger' links with Brussels on trade, defence and securityTurning to Britain's relationship with Brussels, the Foreign Secretary added: 'We are part of this fight as humanitarians, but also as proud Europeans.'This is our continent. And if there is one lesson that I have seen demonstrated to me again and again in this job, it is this – Europe is not just our geography but so much more.'It is how we pursue our values, from climate to the Middle East. It is how we pursue our interests, from trade to defence. It's where we build and protect our alliances, so it is not simply Britain acting alone but Britain with others.'And on economics, on defence, on security, I say to this conference, our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the EU.'Of course, our alliance with the United States in trade, defence and security remains essential, including as part of NATO. But Europe also needs to do more to defend itself.'Mr Burnham recently refused to rule out putting a bid to reverse Brexit at the heart of Labour's next manifesto, saying only that it was a question for 'another day'.But Lord Khan said it was not 'enough' for Labour to float rejoining the EU after the next general election.He argued the Government should return the UK to the EU's customs union immediately, seek 'associate' membership and then propose rejoining entirely - without a second referendum - in Labour's manifesto.'You can't, a week before a general election, pull out of a hat this rabbit of a manifesto and say we're going to rejoin in six weeks' time,' Lord Khan said.'The heavy lifting, the pitch rolling must be done now, explaining to the country the disbenefits of being outside the European Union and the benefits of being part of this family.'Senior Labour MP Stella Creasy, who is chair of the influential pro-EU Labour Movement for Europe, suggested Mr Burnham only has six months to begin reversing Brexit.She demanded a 'fundamental rethink' of the UK's relationship with the EU as she disputed ex-PM Tony Blair's call for Britain to commit to rejoining the bloc within a decade.Ms Creasy spoke ahead of a Labour Movement for Europe rally at Labour's conference on Sunday night, which was also attended by Mr Miliband.Warning that the major changes are coming in the 'next six months alone', she told The Independent: 'I really think this is a critical time for us, and that's why I'm very pleased that we are having this debate and that people are kind of coming forward to it.'Ms Creasy also suggested that Mr Burnham should be 'comfortable' with using a general election manifesto as a mandate to rejoin the EU without necessarily having another referendum.'We do need a democratic moment of consent but I am comfortable about what that might be,' she added.Speaking at Sunday night's rally, Mr Miliband said: 'We have to spell it out: Brexit has not delivered for my constituents in the way that was promised.'